Dan Ashurst, executive director of FairVote Illinois, joins Patti Vasquez in studio to discusses the advantages of ranked choice voting and its current legislative status in Illinois. 

Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
- Ashurst explains how ranked choice voting mitigates "zombie votes," citing the recent Wisconsin Democratic primary election for governor where more than 68,000 votes were cast for candidates who had already withdrawn from the race before Election Day.
- The system allows voters to express a second choice, ensuring their vote remains effective if their primary candidate drops out or cannot win a majority mandate.
- Ashurst argues that RCV promotes diverse representation; he notes that after implementing RCV in New York City, female City Council representation increased from 16 to 31 members out of 50.
- By rewarding candidates who build broader consensus rather than just appealing to a small plurality, the system aims to reduce political extremism and vicious negative campaigning.

Implementation Status 
- Cities including Evanston (with 82 percent approval), Oak Park (79 percent approval), and Skokie have passed referendums to adopt RCV.
- A legal tension exists regarding implementation authority; while municipalities have broad authority under the Illinois Constitution, the Cook County Clerk has expressed concerns because the current election code does not explicitly provide for RCV procedures.

Legislative Goals
- FairVote Illinois is working on state legislation to establish clear standards for clerks and ensure election security through transparent, hand-recountable data processes.
- Although previous attempts have not yet moved out of committee, Ashurst expressed optimism about passing an RCV local option bill during the next legislative session by engaging with clerks early in the process.

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

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